Dave Frelinger

Examines how terrorists make technology choices and how the United States can discourage terrorists' use of advanced conventional weapons. Concludes that the United States should urgently start discussions with key producer nations and also decide on an architecture needed to impose technical controls on new mortar systems that should enter development soon.

This research (1) develops the rationale for investigation cooperative behavior between PRoliferated Autonomous WeapoNs, or PRAWNs, (2) develops the conceptual basis for implementing cooperative behavior (in biology and robotics), (3) identifies weapon applications for systems emboding these concepts and assesses their effectiveness, (4) examines technical approaches for meeting the communications and sensor needs of the weapons, and (5) makes suggestions for maturing the weapon concept.